We have a six year-old Dell laptop with Windows 7. As we only use the computer to surf the net and send and receive e-mails using Google Chrome and gmail, we don't need to use Windows and all its applications. Is it possible to delete it and, if so, how?
Robert Cotterill, by email
You can, but your computer would stop working because Windows is the operating system, the software that makes it tick and provides a platform for programs, like your web browser, to run on. Without an operating system your laptop is just a box of bits that do not know how to communicate with one another, or you. Windows is by no means compulsory but it is usually the simplest option for most users because it is pre-installed on most computers, relatively easy to use, and Windows 7 is quite well behaved, but there is nothing to stop you from exploring the alternatives.
The main contenders are Mac and Linux, though a Mac system is only an option if you buy a new computer. Linux is a large family of operating systems; it is Open Source software, which basically means that it is mostly free, and being constantly refined and developed by its users; this also means that there are lots of different versions, or ‘distributions’, which is where it can become a bit of a minefield for novices. However, several popular distributions have a Windows-like appearance – I would definitely shortlist one called Zorin -- and a there is a very good selection of specially adapted versions of the most popular programs and applications, including Google Chrome and excellent office suites, like LibreOffice. However, be warned that Linux is not an easy alternative to Windows and there can be fairly steep learning curve but it is well worth the effort and it has a number of advantages, including a very high immunity to viruses. It also runs faster and more efficiently than Windows on many PCs and can give older computers a new lease of life.
Rather than dispense with Windows altogether I suggest that you install Linux in free space on your hard drive, in a specially created partition; it is a fairly painless procedure, most popular Linux distributions will do this for you during installation, and it means that you can still use Windows, by selecting it at boot up. If you want to see what is involved have a look at the Getting started with Linux guide on the Lifehacker website at: http://goo.gl/opqJA.
